Colonel Pham Quang Chien, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Military Ship Design Institute, stated that from the moment the task of researching, designing, and manufacturing the USV was assigned, the Party Committee of the Military Ship Design Institute determined that this was not only a new, difficult, and unprecedented scientific topic, but also a truly "major battle" for the unit in the period of accelerating innovation.

Colonel Pham Quang Chien, Director of the Institute of Military Ship Design, inspects a suicide unmanned boat, May 2025.

The mission is of a special nature: it is both highly technological and directly linked to the modernization of weapons and equipment; therefore, it requires unified, decisive, and comprehensive leadership from the Party Committee. The Party Committee has included the USV mission in its leadership resolution, considering it a priority for the years 2024-2025 and a breakthrough to elevate the Institute's research and design capabilities. The consistent guiding principle is that no matter how difficult, it must be done, and any shortcomings must be addressed, because mastering the USV means mastering a new direction of warfare that is taking shape in the world .

Based on the above policy, the leadership was proactively and decisively implemented, addressing any obstacles or difficulties immediately; concentrating all available material resources and the best professional staff to carry out the task. The Director of the Institute presided over the task, assigning a Deputy Director to directly supervise on-site and resolve any problems arising during the integration and testing process.

Thanks to focused and coordinated leadership, the entire Institute mobilized its most elite forces. The "USV Team" was established with a structure resembling a combat formation: a features group, a machine group, a mechanical group, a control group, a data transmission and reception group, a camera group, an image processing group, and an artificial intelligence (AI) group... Each group conducted independent research while also coordinating closely, creating a continuous flow of information, solutions, and experiments. Many technical meetings lasted until late at night; at times, the Party committee had to make decisions right at the test site to adjust design plans, change control algorithms, or handle emergency situations.

The failures during the testing process, from the boat losing control and spinning around in the test area to ventilation and cooling malfunctions damaging the prototype, all presented significant challenges for the research team. But it was precisely at these times that the leadership and ideological guidance of the Party Committee became even more evident. The Institute's Party Committee promptly encouraged morale, strengthened resolve, and fostered calmness and composure to analyze the causes, rewrite every line of code, resolder every component, and test repeatedly until the requirements were met. Colonel, Dr. Luong Luc Quynh, Deputy Director of the Institute, who directly supervised the field, shared: "Failure is a part of science . The more failures we face, the more our professional pride and desire to prove ourselves as scientists will not allow us to stop."

Furthermore, the Institute's Party Committee places special emphasis on mechanisms for encouraging and rewarding individuals who overcome difficulties and resolve technical bottlenecks. Thanks to correct and decisive leadership, the USV's mission is no longer a single topic but has become a vibrant practical education process, where each cadre and Party member is trained in courage, intellect, and the spirit of daring to think and act; where the strength of the Party organization is demonstrated by the scientific results achieved.

Staff from the Institute of Military Ship Design inspect scientific research products, May 2025.

From a bold idea to a complete prototype, the USV has become the most compelling proof of the Military Ship Design Institute's ability to master modern technology; it also demonstrates the central role of the Party Committee in inspiring, leading, and organizing collective intelligence. Scientifically and technologically, the USV is a highly complex product, especially in its control, data transmission, satellite positioning, image processing, and system integration components. The successful development of the USV prototype marks the first time Vietnam has mastered an unmanned surface combat vehicle capable of stealth operations, high maneuverability, real-time image transmission, and significantly lower costs than its operational objectives. This represents a breakthrough in design capabilities and clearly demonstrates that the Institute's scientific staff, with over 60% holding postgraduate degrees, are fully capable of conquering new technological fields requiring creativity and interdisciplinary knowledge.

Colonel, MSc. Le Anh Tuan, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the Institute, assessed: "Not only has the USV created a strategic product, but its mission has also made a significant contribution to the growth of young officers. Facing continuous challenges, forced to experiment, analyze, and revise, young officers quickly mature in their professional competence and scientific acumen. This is precisely the strategic resource that the Institute aims for in its new term's objectives: to enhance the design and development capabilities of 3-5 new, modern, and highly innovative weapons and technical equipment."

The story of USV affirms that when the Party organization provides proper leadership, knows how to leverage collective intelligence, and creates an environment for cadres to contribute, science and technology will become a powerful driving force for innovation. This success not only enhances the position of the Military Ship Design Institute in the defense industry but also makes a practical contribution to the goal of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern Vietnamese People's Army.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/suc-bat-tu-mot-tran-danh-lon-1014257